Sexy and strong is great, but K-pop comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes that size is “cute.” This week’s KultScene Playlist Sunday features our favorite cute K-pop concepts. These bright, colorful, upbeat songs and music videos were handpicked by KultScene’s staff to put a smile on anyone’s face as these girl groups and boy band win their way into everybody’s hearts.
I don’t know where exactly DIA’s “My Friend’s Boyfriend” falls on the cute spectrum, but I have no doubt that it is there. If I were to guess it would be somewhere between Red Velvet’s chaos and A Pink’s purity with added self-parody. This confusion becomes immediately apparent with a first listen. The song opens with blaring sirens and rolling drums that recall heavy American hip hop more than a cutesy pop song. This is straight undercut though by soft vocals in the opening verse, which harmonize in traditionally satisfying ways when it comes to being cute. The song doesn’t stop throwing stuff at us there though, still to come are coughs, psychotic la las, and a fiery rap which follows the first chorus with barely a blink to recover. The whole song is more akin to an obsessive young person who thinks they’re cute and will never believe that the object of their desire has no feelings for them. I mean, they are literally stealing their friend’s boyfriend.
I’m really not a fan of the cute girl concepts. For me, they cater to the male gaze by falling into the stereotypes of the uber feminized, demure woman that just isn’t prevalent anymore. So imagine my pain when I began liking APink’s “Mr. Chu” and see it become one of my favorite songs from last year. This group is the epitome of the hypersexualized virginal, docile woman in my eyes, but even I couldn’t help but fall for the catchy chorus and the awesomely shot music video by one of my favorite directors, Digipedi. Because at the end of the day, it’s more important not to promote girl hate and just accept them and enjoy their feel-good music.
— Alexis
GOT7 has shown us an array of styles, everything from preppy and cheerful to the mysteriously rugged. It was only a matter of time before they gave us an overly cute concept like “Just Right.” There’s been times where I had forgotten how old these guys really were, especially when the choreography for songs like “Girls Girls Girls” and “Stop Stop It” required them to be a bit more serious, through their dance moves and facial expressions. “Just RIght” was a nice break from it all. Even though it was rather cringe worthy to watch at times anyone who watched this music video and saw the members frolicking around, making derpy facial expressions and acting as goofy as they did, probably couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. Whether it’s the finger snaps or the addictive “woo-oohs”, it’ll only take one listen before you fall in love with this song.
When you think of INFINITE, you don’t necessarily think “ah they’re adorable.” But in 2013, the group released “Man In Love,” and the song is just an ode to the group’s cute, whimsical side. “Man In Love” takes everything good about INFINITE- the retro inspired dance songs, the synchronized dance moves- and adds an element of sweet, adorableness that other INFINITE songs don’t display. The 80’s inspired song is lighter than most of INFINITE’s more recent songs, while similar to early songs like “Come Back Again.” The music video is filled with images that are sure to make INFINITE’s fan’s hearts flutter (Sungyeol baking, Sungkyu’s light show, L’s romantic silliness in class, etc.) but the lyrics of “Man In Love” are also simply adorable. “Like a young child, I keep laughing for no reason” and “The letters in my book are dancing as they form your name,” give the song a lighthearted meaning that I absolutely love and would be happy to see more of from INFINITE.
–Tamar
What’s your favorite cute K-pop song? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
While it seems like the holiday season begins earlier and earlier each year, the Friday after Thanksgiving is the traditional kickoff for those of us living in the United States. Some of you may have already started putting together your wish lists or have started shopping, but in case you are looking for some K-pop or K-drama inspired presents, KultScene has you covered with our 2015 gift guide.
For The K-Beauty Obsessed
Korean masks – $2-$25 This is perhaps the most obvious choice on the list when it comes to K-beauty lovers. Have your choice from any of the masks we tested out earlier this year. Seriously, there’s way too many options out there, so just have your go at whatever happens to catch your eye Glass Nails – $2 Glass nails are the biggest thing out of Korea since K-pop, and are the trend that we most have our eye on. It’s cheap, and fun, and a great small item to include in any gift basket. Chosungah 22 Flavorful Lipstick in Guava Tint Jello– $18 This is not only a beautiful, well-lasting shade to color your lips with, but the lipstick looks like jello. It may look like jello, but don’t start eating it just because it’s flavored. The Chosungah 22 product is also a lip balm and has a lot of vitamins to help keep lips smooth.
Colored Hair Dye – $7-$$ (drugstore versus professional) Red, green, pink, blue, galaxy… What color hair do you think you or your loved one deserves to wear next year? Korean stars have surpassed the normal blondes, reds, and browns, and it’s now your turn to help someone get a new ‘do. The Little Book of Skin Care by Charlotte Cho– $14 The Soko Glam founder published her book earlier this year, following the rise in popularity of K-beauty. This is the newest, most updated guide for getting that special beautiful Korean skin, and what we’re all hoping to get this season.
iTunes Gift Card – $10+ Don’t laugh. Nowadays, there’s Spotify and YouTube to listen to your favorite K-pop tunes on, but nothing beats owning a whole album the day it’s released and listening to it again and again and again. YG Entertainment Apparel– $5+ This is perfect for any YG-stan out ther, or really anyone who likes some of K-pop’s biggest acts. YG Entertainment, one of South Korea’s largest entertainment agencies, recently started selling their merchandise directly to overseas consumers. Don’t miss out on your chance to get some of your own Big Bang or 2NE1 hoodies, CDs, or more.
Concert Tickets – $50+ It’s every K-pop fan’s dream to see their favorite idols live. There have been more overseas concerts than ever before in 2015, and A Pink (U.S), INFINITE (U.S), and Beast (Australia) are just some of the few acts going outside of Asia in the near future. If you or anyone you know loves listening, dancing, singing, and breathing K-pop, tickets to a K-pop concert near (or far) is a good gift. Tickets vary in price, but the experience is priceless. CDs & Concert DVDs – $20+ Even better than songs on your computer or phone are K-pop albums that you can hold and cherish for all eternity (or until you run out of space on your shelves.) K-pop CDs and other sorts of merchandise can be purchased on a variety of websites, so a quick Google search or Amazon search is sure to turn up a lot of options. Or, if you live near a Korean community, check out their local bookstore and you may be surprised.
For The Fashion Gurus
Retro black chokers – $7 The 90’s are back in full force, and it began first in Korea before coming west earlier this year. The stylish black necklaces (recently seen on EXID) are back and you definitely want to get your hands on one before the trend goes back into the past.
Beanies a la Siwon in “She Was Pretty” -$10 Anywhere you looked in the second half of the year, it was almost impossible to miss Super Junior’s Siwon being absolutely everywhere. One of his biggest roles was in the drama “She Was Pretty,” and, along with all of the ridiculousness of his character, came one really amazing orange beanie. Flared Jeans – $30 Going back to our retro styles that are in, flared jeans join the high-waisted trend that have been in for a while now to great some sort of uber nostalgia jeans. You can get flared jeans from anywhere, but these cute ones from H&M are currently on sale and sure to make anyone look good.
Maangchi’s Cookbook – $17 Want to learn how to cook authentic Korean food? Blogger and YouTuber chef Maangchi released her cookbook “Maangchi’s Real Korean Cooking: Authentic Dishes for the Home Cook” was released in May. So grab a copy and start cooking some of her mouth watering recipes.
Dolsot pot – $38 If you’re looking for a real Korean cooking expereince, getting one of these authentic Korean stonewear pots is the way to go.
For The Readers
“A Geek In Korea” $13 Daniel Tudor’s guide to Korea is a great intro to the country you may have been introduced to by K-pop and K-dramas. Here’s your chance to get an inside take on the whole world of Korean pop culture.
“In Real Life”– $13 Lawrence Tabak’s young adult novel is about E-games, a side of Korean pop culture that usually doesn’t come into contact with fans of Korean music, dramas, and films, but it is a major part of Korean society and a fun read.
“Hello, I Love You”– $14 Katie M. Stout’s debut novel is all about romance, cultural understanding, K-pop, and idols. What more is there to want?
Happy holidays from KultScene!
What are you buying this season? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/starhomebgimg1.jpg8881662Tamar Hermanhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-11-27 05:21:132015-12-07 15:38:492015 Gift Guide For Fans Of Korean Pop Culture
After a good 12 episode run, “Sassy Go Go,” aka “Cheer Up,” unfortunately met its end this past November 10. The romcom K-drama, that A Pink’s Eunji starred in along with actor Lee Won-Keun, created a lot of buzz while it aired and was very popular. The cast further included VIXX’s N and Ji-Soo, who appeared in “Angry Mom.”
“Sassy Go Go” is high school K-drama, set in Sevit High School, which portrayed the struggles and inferiorities of students. As students were rated by their academic performance, the sole focus of students were only achieving higher ranking by any means. The brutal environment of Sevit High made it impossible for students to hold on to their moral values. The chaos of “Sassy Go Go” started as the lowest and highest ranks clashed in Sevit High.
“Sassy Go Go” really cheered the viewers up with its happy ending. We’re definitely sad that it’s over, and the fact that it was so short left so many things unsaid and made us wonder about all the potential possibilities. So let’s talk about all the cliffhangers that “Sassy Go Go” left us thinking about.
[Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers, read at your own discretion.]
The Relationship of Kim Yeol and Kang Yeon-Doo
By the end of the show, the issues between Kim Yeol (Lee Won-Keun) and Ha-Joon (Ji-Soo) have been resolved. Seo Ha-Joon is fine with Kim Yeol dating Yeon-Doo (Eun-Ji). Meanwhile Kim Yeol already noticed how dearly his father loves Yeon-Doo’s mom. How he has no objection against his dad getting married to Yeon Doo’s mom. During the last episode, we got a glimpse of Kim Yeol making arrangements for the change in his guardianship so he could date Kang Yeon-Doo and their parents could get married.
The adoption of Kim Yeol is not guaranteed because anything could happen in K-dramas at the very last moment. Even if Kim Yeol gets adopted, he could not deny the blood relation to his father. But still, how strange it sounds. Imagine what sort of family it would be? An absurd lovey dovey family!
What if their parents wish to expand their family? What would they tell their future child? That Kim Yeol and Kang Yeon-Doo are your siblings and they are dating each other? Huh? I don’t know what the writers were thinking, but…
Second Lead Syndrome: Seo Ha-Joon
Second lead syndrome is the reason why most of us hate love triangles. The poor second lead always get neglected in Korean dramas and it breaks our heart to see them bleed every time, even if we already know that this fate is inevitable.
I am head over heels for Seo Ha-Joon, and I guess most of you are too. Our poor Ha-Joon was abused by his aggressive father and attempted suicide when he could no longer handle the situation. He only has Kim Yeol as his friend, who was luckily able to help him with his anger management issues. Just like Yeon-Doo, we all couldn’t help but to sympathize for Ha-Joon. Yeon-Doo tries to assist Ha-Joon as a friend, but gradually Ha-Joon started to develop feelings for Yeon-Doo and we got a love triangle in “Sassy Go Go.”
source: mychanchans.tumblr.com
The chemistry between Kang Yeon-Doo and So Ha-Joon is adorable, sassy Yeon-Doo teasing shy Ha-Joon.
source: mychanchans.tumblr.com
Seo Ha-Joon not only bled but also sacrificed his love for his friend. However, he said that he would get over it. But deep down, he would always have feelings for Yeon-Doo. The ending of the drama just gave us hope for Seo Ha-Joon and we’d love to know what the future has in store for him
source: superangeldelusion.tumblr.com
The Not So Evil Kwon So-Ah and Ha Dong-Jae
We would like to see more of Kwon So-Ah and Ha Dong-Jae, and how Dong-Jae would bring out the best in her personality. Just one episode wasn’t enough for us. How could someone get over something in an instant? I think Dong-Jae would need more time to recover from his complex of touching. We are sure that Kwon So-Ah would help him.
source: actor-jisoo.tumblr.com
Sevit High Teachers
And how could we forget our favorite teachers? We just got a flicker of interaction between them in the ending episodes. Definitely, we would like to see the chemistry between them and the reaction of their students. We would like to know what the former principal is doing. What new changes are being brought by the current Sevit High teachers. Who is the new principal?
On the funny note, we just found out in the last episode that Kim Yeol is a squid. Kim Yeol lied to us in all those 12 episodes. He kept on skidding from here to there and we only noticed his act in the last episode.
source: hrtofdorkness.tumblr.com
Dreams For The Second Season
After looking at all these cliffhangers, there is a possibility of a second season. The possible outcome for season two could be that Kim Yeol and Yeon-Doo would find it hard to date each other as their parents would get married. On the side note, a new transfer student would enter Sevit High. This transfer girl would be a best rival Kim Yeol could ever think of. It would be first time for Kim Yeol to face defeat and he would probably develop interest in that girl. Whereas, Yeon-Doo would feel left out and would likely spend more time with Ha-Joon. No doubt, this time Kang Yeon-Doo would fall for Ha-Joon and our second lead would finally get a happy ending.
The bromance between Kim Yeol and Ha-Joon would stay strong no matter what ever happens. Not even Yeon-Doo could surpass it. That ship would sail smoothly to make us swoon worthy. Kwon So-Ah and Ha Dong-Jae would start dating. As, they both understands each other really well. They would help each other out and would look cute together.
The former principle would reflect on her actions and would despise bribery and greed. She would join Sevit High as a teacher and would try to win the hearts of students. Due to the previous notorious acts of Sevit High, new actions would be taken and co-curricular activities would be encouraged in school.
“Baek Ho” and “The Real King” would again join forces to participate in the cheerleading competition, and this time, they would win the trophy. Season two would end on a happy note as well.
But in the meantime, Cheer Up! and enjoy the exhilarating theme song and go down the memory lane of “Sassy Go Go.”
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Untitled-design.jpg7681024KultScenehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2015-11-26 12:37:242017-05-15 20:07:51Questions We Have After The End of ‘Sassy Go Go’
If anything, 2015 has been the year for rookie male K-pop groups as many fresh groups such as iKON and DAY6 have made their successful debuts. Armed with both youthful energy and high-level performance skills, these groups are likely to become big hits and household names in the K-pop industry in the future. From synchronised dancing to powerful rapping, each group has their own strengths and has showcased their individuality well through their respective releases, earning themselves strong fan bases despite their recent debuts.
Have you ever wondered which rookie male group your personality is most similar to? Here’s Kultscene’s latest quiz to help you find out more about these groups and yourself!
What did you think of your result? Did you pick the rookie group that you thought you would? Let us know what other quizzes you’d like to see from KultScene! Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PicsArt_1448335385777.jpg20482048Anna Cheanghttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2015-11-24 04:02:102015-11-24 05:14:20Which K-Pop Male Rookie Group Are You? [QUIZ]
We all know K-pop is one big umbrella of every genre ever invented (well, most of them). If it’s catchy and you can dance to it, it’s probably been used already by a producer. But this time we’re spotlighting disco, another big umbrella genre that combines pop, funk, soul, and even salsa and that was at its peak in the mid to late ‘70s. K-pop, of course, also pick-and-chooses some elements of disco and combine it with electro pop to make it contemporary. That being said, this week, we’re all about those funky songs that take us on a time warp back to the 1970’s.
Five member girl group Ladies Code transport listeners back in time to the 1970’s with their 2013 hit “Pretty Pretty.” Featuring a funky beat, blaring trumpets, and powerful vocals, the track has great sing-a-long potential. Tongue in cheek lyrics tell how the girls’ beauty sees them hounded by would be suitors, but Ladies Code eventually tire of this constant attention and revert to being ordinary. The colourful and quirky music video, masterfully directed by Digipedi, makes “Pretty Pretty” an amusingly scathing commentary on superficiality.
f(x) had a very disco track in their album “Red Light,” and that was none other than “All Night.” It’s not as upbeat as disco used to be, but the song definitely has that feel and soul of the classic disco era. f(x) has never been afraid to experiment with their music and disco suits them very well. Their vocals sound very sultry thus making the track very sexy. Even their live performances were very sexy. The group promoted this song alongside their title track “Red Light” making this song one of the favorite tracks in the album.
— Alejandro
Uhm Jung Hwa is the queen of K-pop disco, thanks to her 2008 single “D.I.S.C.O.” The title track off her EP, the singer introduced disco music to the late 2000’s, and we’re happy that she did. The dance song takes its influences from, what else? Disco’s funky dance elements. This song is clearly nostalgia-evoking, with reverberated vocals, scritch scratching, and electronic synth elements being the base of the song. BIGBANG’s T.O.P’s rap also includes some of these electro-funk elements, and feels a lot like early BIGBANG raps. Uhm Jung Hwa’s live performances of this song threw even more disco elements, go go boots and all.
— Tamar
Another artist who has made pop disco part of their signature sound is quirky girl group Crayon Pop, and if I have to pick one song that stands out the most to me for it’s funky beat, it’s “Dancing Queen.” Similarly to the other famous “Dancing Queen” disco jam by ABBA, Crayon Pop’s version is also about a young girl who just wants to dance and have fun on the weekend. Packed with disco influence point dances, “Dancing Queen” has an infectious beat that sounds like if they had made a chipmunk version of a typical disco song. It’s very lively and generates a need to get up and dance, which is what disco is all about; having fun and tearing up the dance floor under the disco ball.
If Uhm Jung Hwa is the queen of disco of her generation, then T-ARA is her younger contemporary. This title is all thanks to their funky 2011 song “Roly Poly,” which featured the genre’s signature synthesised sounds and cowbells as the main backing. But it’s at the music video where the theme is really emphasized, transporting viewers back to the 1970’s when disco really ruled. In it, the girls shamelessly dressed in colorful mismatched prints, high rise pants, and scarves boogie it out to their iconic finger point dance in a club, lit up by, what else, but disco balls. And while the lyrics may be nothing extraordinary (it echoes a typical one-sided love), the vintage “Saturday Night Fever” inspired video was certainly refreshing at the time. Off-of their second mini album “John Travolta Wannabe,” “Roly Poly” is the ultimate Korean disco-pop dance track.
— Shelley
What’s your favorite disco K-pop song? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/11791608_10156062348330019_2050137344_n.jpg720960KultScenehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2015-11-22 15:20:152015-11-23 14:04:43Playlist Sunday: Disco
I knew that I had to get my hands on INFINITE’s concert tickets once they announced their second world tour, ”INFINITE EFFECT”. As a relatively new Inspirit (INFINITE’s fan), I had missed the chance to see them two years ago, when they visited Singapore as part of their first world tour, “One Great Step.” The desire to attend their concert intensified further when the details for their Singapore stop was officially announced, especially because the concert was to be held at a smaller venue as compared to the previous time, thus propelling my friends and I to go for priority booking (at an extra cost of about 20 dollars), all in the hopes of getting to see our beloved idols in a closer proximity — and see them we did.
Press Conference
INFINITE has always been known for their outstanding fan service and constant gratitude towards their fans, but this was clearly highlighted to Singaporean Inspirits when they decided to have a public press conference in a mall, rather than a quiet one with only media representatives present. Needless to say, it became more of a crazy fan meet rather than a press conference as 1,500 teenage girls huddled together to get a glimpse of the dashing INFINITE members. Although the press conference only started at 7:30 p.m., most fans had been camping at the venue since early that morning despite the hot weather and the subsequent rain. I joined the crowd slightly later than the rest but still enjoyed a good long wait of about four hours. It was well worth it though, that was for sure. INFINITE had only arrived in Singapore that morning but they were all dolled up to perfection in their black suits and there was no sign of tiredness on their faces as they interacted with the fans. They came very promptly as well, which showed their love and consideration for their fans, who had been waiting for them for a long time. L even looked shocked at the number of fans who were gathered there for them.
video credits @PINGGVAELE
It was my first time seeing them live, and though I was constantly being blocked by the flailing arms of the fangirls in front of me, it felt amazing to see them with my own eyes and to be in the same venue as them. When they started to speak, I literally couldn’t breathe because of how surreal the situation was. Watching their interaction with the fans and with each other felt like I was watching a fancam or a video of them at an event or a concert, but the reality was that I was present with them, and this realisation made my heart pound even more rapidly than usual.
It was a tiring 30 minutes, having to squeeze with tons of other fans in a suffocating atmosphere, constantly screaming and cheering while desperately trying to balance my camera, tip-toeing for the entirety of the press conference in order to get a better view; but it was all worth it to listen to their adorable answers to the reporters present and to sense their sincere gratitude and love for their fans. Maybe the reason why INFINITE remains so dearly loved by their fans five years after their debut is because of how charming all the members are, not just in terms of looks but also the way they speak. Take for example, this question which came up at the press conference.
Reporter: What is the biggest challenge that INFINITE is facing? Hoya: The biggest challenge that I’ve had is that I haven’t been able to see my Singapore fans for the past two years.
How could anyone not fall for them? Though I had never seen INFINITE in real life before, I had attended “Running Man” fan meets before and I was used to such crowds. I also knew the best way to get a good video of the INFINITE members, and that was to rush to gather around their exit route before the press conference ended. While I wasn’t the first to think of that idea, I did make it there before most of the other fans did, and that enabled me to stand at a distance of less than five meters away from the members as they exited the venue. It was a precious experience, and it thoroughly hyped me up for the concert that was to take place the following night.
It was the 13th of November, also known as the day I had been waiting for for the past five to six months! Though I was exhausted from the previous night’s fervor, I was also very excited to finally attend the concert. Once again, the concert started right on time with a thrilling trailer that ended with the appearance of the seven INFINITE members. Though the concert venue was small and the capacity of the place was limited to 3,000 people, the deafening screams of the fans more than made up for the lack of numbers. The energy was very high, both for INFINITE and for the fans as the group started off with three of their hit releases, “Before The Dawn,” “Paradise,” and “Be Mine.” Unfortunately, Hoya (main dancer and rapper) was injured so he could not participate in most of the dances during this concert and had to remain seated at the side of the stage. Despite his absence, the rest of the members managed to fill up the stage and still performed their dances with much synchronicity and precision.
My favourite moments during this concert were probably when the members gave speeches because they were all so sincere and their true personalities really shone through. For one thing, they all made an effort to speak as much as they could in English, and some of them (L and Hoya) were actually pretty proficient in the language. From photos of the press conference the day before, I could tell that the members were all pretty tired, especially since they had hectic schedules and another concert lined up in Jakarta after Singapore. However, this did not show during their performances and speeches because they gave their all and brought a lot of energy to their stages. Dongwoo in particular was seriously high throughout the concert and his wacky actions made fans laugh out loud several times in the night. The best line of the night probably came from L though, and he repeated the same line two more times at the end of the concert and on his Instagram post: “I’m your darling L!”
After the energetic performances came some slow ones as the members performed their newest ballads “Standing Face to Face” and “Love Letter.” These two songs were the ones that I looked forward to the most, partly because I am a huge ballad fan and partly because I wanted to hear their voices live. The performances sent chills down my spine because of how good they sounded in real life, if it was possible they sounded even better than on their album. To watch their emotions, to hear the strength of the voices, to hear their high and skilful notes, no words could express how overwhelmed and blissful I felt in that moment. This is a phrase that I’ve been repeating a lot but INFINITE’s love for their fans really shined through their rendition of “Love Letter,” and I’m thankful that I got a chance to experience it.
The special stages put up by INFINITE H, Woohyun, INFINITE F and Sunggyu were fantastic as well. I especially loved the subunit performances because they went around doing fan service and interacting with the fans. Though they nearly got mobbed in the process, the members bravely stuck it out and continued throwing adorable stuffed plushies to their fans. They even gave sweet reminders for fans to stay safe even while rushing to catch the presents they handed out. This fanservice continued through other performances of songs from their latest mini-album “Reality” and they even performed their newest unreleased song, “For You” with a great choreography. I can’t wait for this song to be released!
The concert “ended” with a bang with their latest title tracks “Back” and “Bad,” and the reason why I’m using these inverted commas is because they obviously had an encore prepared for the fans. After about five minutes of fans alternatively chanting “Encore, encore” and “돌아와“(Korean for comeback), the members reappeared in fresh outfits and performed their debut song, “Come Back Again.” It was a nice throwback to their earliest days and started the members off on a sentimental note for their final speeches. I’ll be honest, I started tearing up during these speeches, not just because they were touching but because I couldn’t believe that the concert was ending so quickly. It had already gone on for around two hours and there was hardly a moment when the members were not on stage, but it was so fast-paced that I thought the concert had just begun. It might be a delusion but I had the impression that the members felt the same way. During their speeches, it was evident that they felt sad about leaving Singapore so soon after they had arrived, especially in the case of Woohyun and Dongwoo, who came close to tears as they spoke and sang their final song, “Together.”
I knew from watching concert videos that INFINITE would definitely perform this song at the end, but nothing prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster that I would feel as I heard them sing. A simple and heartfelt song written by Woohyun after the first world tour, I fell in love with it the first time I heard it, but it’s definitely different when you hear it live. Woohyun’s extra high note at the climax of the song gave me goosebumps and it was so beautiful, the way the members sounded when they sang in harmony. The song carried the concert to an emotional high, and that’s when it truly ended with white confetti falling from the ceiling. Together, they took a deep bow as they thanked the fans who had gone to the concert and the amazing band who had played for them the entire night. As I was furiously snapping photos, tears were also running down my cheeks because of this show of unity. The reason why I love INFINITE so much is because of the strong friendship between the members, and this bow reinforced my belief in them. No matter what may face them in the future, I know that they will always have each other along with the support of all their fans, including me of course.
All in all, as my first K-pop concert, INFINITE EFFECT really set the bar for me and I can’t wait for them to come back already. These two days that INFINITE was in Singapore were really two of the best days in my life, and they really reminded me of why I became an Inspirit in the first place. Even as INFINITE continues their world tour till next year, I hope that they will continue to receive the support of all their Inspirits and that they will continue to achieve great success.
Have you ever attended an INFINITE concert? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1447723898120.jpg20482048Anna Cheanghttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2015-11-16 21:36:592015-11-16 21:36:59#IFNTECT_SG: The Best 2 Days Of My Life
After a lengthy hiatus and lawsuit, the K-pop idol group B.A.P is back in the game with their new album, ”Matrix.” To celebrate their comeback, this week’s KultScene Playlist Sunday is inspired by B.A.P’s name. All of these songs fall under the category of being best,absolute, or perfect.
While it’s hard to pick a personal favorite, one of the songs that I think falls under the category of being absolutely perfect is HISTORY’s “Dreamer.” The group’s 2013 debut song is a retro-inspired dance tune that really gave HISTORY’s members a chance to shine vocally and stand out from amongst the crowded K-pop boy band world. The upbeat swing sounds and harmonizations are reminiscent of show tunes. I honestly think it’s a pity that HISTORY hasn’t put out more songs along the lines of “Dreamer,” because the song truly goes places that are rare to find in K-pop.
It’s virtually impossible to choose my favourite K-pop song, but if you twisted my arm I would have to say “Tarantallegra.” For me, Xia Junsu has the best voice in Korea and there’s no doubting his 100 percent commitment to his craft, whether or not the song is to your taste. The scope and execution of the video are breathtaking, so in my opinion Junsu’s vocal talents plus his breadth of vision equal absolute perfection.
— Eve
For me, best, absolute, and perfect came this year in the form of Brown Eyed Girls’ “Brave New World.” Everything about this song is larger than life and in true BEG fashion. The music video –with all its colors and glitter and amazing fashion — is visually stunning and that beat, I mean, sampling a Michael Jackson song was genius. They took a classic like “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and gave it a fresh spin to make it sound contemporary. And, of course, it goes without saying that the girls absolutely slaaaaaaaay everything from their vocals, to the choreography, to being their fantastic selves. Overall, this is, in my humble opinion, one of the, if not the, best comeback package of 2015 so far. I’m actually bummed out they’re promoting the other single rather than this one. “Brave New World” crosses over the K-pop boundaries into the worldwide pop spectrum that should be as relevant as our favorite Western pop divas.
— Alexis
As of writing I still have not listened to the new B.A.P song, so I figure I’ll add their best moment to make up for it. When I heard they were finally coming back, I hoped that they would come back strong and angry just like in “Badman.” Anger is an uncommon sight in K-pop so when it’s executed as well as it is here, it makes an impact. Never before has the distinct tonal shifts in seemed so appropriate. Yongguk’s crushing rap moves abruptly into serene vocals from Daehyun and Youngjae, creating dissonance that perfectly mirrors the weariness of the lyrics. This is all even before the siren synths of the chorus that signal impending doom or saviour depending on your mood. This is what B.A.P bring to the K-pop world and I’m glad they’re back to hopefully shake up a comfortable environment.
B.A.P always finds ways to surprise their audiences with their various music styles. Since they are heavily influenced in hip hop, these guys are always trying to incorporate portions of that genre into their music, while still bringing different elements to the table. “No Mercy” offers a great blend of their universal skillsets, everything from members Yongguk and Zelo’s unique satoori (a certain accent/dialect from South Korea) raps, to Daehyun’s stellar vocal stamina and Jongup’s weightless yet forceful dance moves. The song reels you in the second the first beat drops; the addictive “boom clap boom boom clap” will make even the most terrible of dancers, I’m guilty as charged, get on up and prance around like they’ve been dancing for years!
— Tam
What are your best absolute perfect K-pop songs? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Untitled-design.png7681024KultScenehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2015-11-15 17:22:002015-11-15 17:22:00Playlist Sunday: Best Absolute Perfect
B.A.B.Y’s worldwide can finally rejoice because B.A.P’s long awaited comeback is finally underway! After a turbulent and what felt like a never ending 12 months, the guys are finally back and is set to release their latest music video for “Young, Wild & Free” on November 15th. In order to properly prep you for this overdue comeback, here are six songs to get you ready for it!
[Disclaimer: As a B.A.B.Y myself, I suggest you seclude yourself in a room with a box (or two) of tissue, seeing as you’re about to experience some serious “feels” with these songs.]
1. “Warrior”
B.A.P sure knows how to make an entrance! They set the tone for the rest of the 2012’s rookie groups the moment they released their debut music video and track, “Warrior.” Most people’s first impressions were probably something along the lines of, “who are these six blonde newbies?” Sure, it was probably hard to tell them apart in this music video, considering all the uniformed outfits and non stop choreography that prevented the viewers a chance to take a peek at their faces. But that was it! There was something about all of that that reeled potential fans in.
During the time of B.A.P’s debut, it was beyond uncommon to see Korean boy bands or “idol” groups in general tampering with hip hop as much as they did. This song came out during a time where other boy bands were all about that flower boy image and cute concepts, whereas “Warrior” was the polar opposite. It showed strength, determination, and power; it was refreshing and completely unexpected. Not only did B.A.P set the bar high with their debut for the rookies that followed, but “Warrior” was a way of them setting their own standards, raising the bar sky high for their own comebacks. Read more
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Screen-Shot-2013-10-22-at-8.50.19-PM.png515796Tam Huynhhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTam Huynh2015-11-13 11:50:382015-11-13 14:08:246 Songs to Get You Ready For B.A.P’s Comeback
Fans of Korean music don’t need to know Korean to love the songs, but once in awhile there’s a tune or two that just doesn’t make sense. We still love those songs, but let’s be honest: Nonsensical K-pop songs deserve their own special genre. For this week’s Playlist Sunday, the KultScene staff members picked their favorite completely over-the-top nonsense K-pop songs for your listening pleasure.
You can leave it up to BIGBANG to having some of the most interesting and mind boggling concepts. Let’s take one of their latest song and music video “Bae Bae” for example. Lyrically, the song takes the generic route and talks about being blinded by beautiful girls and infatuated with her angelic looks and how she’s glamorous from head to toe. The music video on the other hand is strange from the get go. There were a lot of hidden meanings, a few that only those a certain age would understand, some of it was a bit rated if I say so myself. Everything from Taeyang, with that atrocious long haired wig, riding a horse, to Daesung laying in a body of water, stranded on his lonely island, to Seungri’s relationship with a dominatrix-like female was extremely odd, especially for a song that talked about a female’s beauty. The video might be understood by and even appealing to those couples in a similar sub/dom kind of relationship who are looking for that extra bit of teasing, sure, but it’s not something I can say I enjoyed. It doesn’t matter how many times I watch the music video, I find myself saying “what the hell?” every single time. As questionable as the music video for “Bae Bae” is, it’s one of those videos that’ll you’ll find yourself watching time and time again out of curiosity.
U-KISS‘s “0330” is a great song, and the music video is really beautiful and heart wrenching. But that math equation halfway through the song, well, that is simply unforgivable. U-KISS has several members who speak English, so there is absolutely no excuse for “Don’t deny our r ²Ï€ (r squared pi).” Seriously, I’m looking at you, Eli and Kevin. What does that mean even? “Don’t deny our r ²Ï€” would literally mean, “don’t deny our circle.” WHAT? I’m not even going to try to explain away this line. “0330” came out in 2011 and I still don’t think I can get over this Engrish faux paux.
— Tamar
BIGBANG’s Taeyang has released some great songs such as “Wedding Dress” and “Eyes Nose Lips” as a soloist but he has also released some weird ones as well. What does “Ringa Linga” mean even? The music video is pretty weird as well, with cars flying backwards and glow in the dark dance scenes. The chorus is essentially made up of Taeyang repeating “ringa linga” over and over again, but as a song it’s pretty addictive and catchy, so it is a no-brainer that this song was a huge hit. Its title may not make much sense, but it’s a definite ear worm and will get stuck in your head in no time.
— Anna
On their 2011 “In Heaven” album, three piece vocal group JYJ featured “Mission,” an up tempo number merging dance beats with a prominent classical string section. Unfortunately, this accomplished composition of Junsu’s also showcased some of the most bizarre English lyrics to be heard in K-pop. For example, during his rap verse, Yuchun states: “Probably your money is unpublic/Try to save my life like a puppy and cream.” In the same rap, he continues “F**K off no more talk,” which was taken by fans as a response to the group’s detractors, given JYJ’s well documented struggles in recent years. It is impossible to know if JYJ are attempting to be avant-garde with this song or simply out of their depth with a foreign language but, given that they previously tried to target the U.S. market, such grammatically muddled lyrics are unforgivable.
For being the richest entertainment company in the K-pop industry, SM Entertainment does not spend enough money on their lyricists. Or even a fact checker, for that matter. SM has made its groups release some really questionable songs with random English phrases, but one of the most wtf-worthy came with Super Junior and their 2012 song “Sexy, Free & Single.” I mean, I’m with you SuJu. You’re all in your mid to late twenties and early thirties; a song about being young and available and virile is adequate. One question though, what does “bingo” mean in “Sexy, free, and single/I’m ready too, bingo?” Are you trying to make “bingo” into a thing or…??? Help this ELF out here.
Recently, it was reported that the Swedish lyricists behind Britney Spears’ iconic “… Baby One More Time” thought that “hit me” meant “call me” in English slang. So when Britney sings “hit me baby one more time,” in the minds of the lyricists, it actually means “call me baby one more time.” And given that “Sexy, Free & Single” was written by fellow Scandinavians, maybe “bingo” means one or another slang phrase to them as well.
— Alexis
APink‘s “Bubibu” is a bubbly and adorable song about a shy girl’s infatuation with a boy, which, upon first listen, is nothing odd. I mean, it covers the themes that are expected to go with such adoration, such as the daydreams and the confession (or lack of it)… but then we get the chorus: “Slowly, on your two cheeks, BuBiBu/I want to hold your hand tightly and BuBiBu.” I’m sorry, but what? From what I’ve gathered, it sounds like the term “BuBiBu” might refer to a more saccharine way of saying “to brush against” or an onomatopoeia for “to touch,” though it still doesn’t make much sense when we consider the line “You are my everything BuBiBu.” And the babble talk does not stop there. In a similar vein, we have the ingenious “Looking at you and I go lululala” and “rub dub, rub dub I tremble,” which still has me scratching my head. But then again, can I really be overly critical of the song? It never claimed itself to be profound or academic; it’s a pop song for Pete’s sake! So despite its nonsensical nature, “BuBiBu” quickly became and still remains as one of my favorites.
— Shelley
What’s your favorite nonsense K-pop song? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
It’s here, the week that many people around the world wait for all year. Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time for all of the spooky tunes to get you in the mood for the day of dress up and candy. Which means that this week’s KultScene Playlist Sunday is filled with the creepiest K-pop songs that our writers could find.
VIXX has always been well known for their dark and unique concepts but to me, no other concept of theirs is as horrifying as the one for “Voodoo Doll.” In fact, the music video for this song was so scary and gory that another clean version had to be released. The entire video is eerily fascinating however, and showcases some wonderful acting from the VIXX members, along with a tight choreography and a catchy song. Be warned though, the music video is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
— Anna
Big Bang’s leader G-Dragon caused a stir with this highly controversial music video from his 2009 album, “Heartbreaker.” In “She’s Gone,” GD assumes the role of a crazed psychopath from the Victorian era who kidnaps a former love interest, after she spurned him for another man. G-Dragon’s character keeps the girl tied to a chair, but somehow she manages to escape. Carrying a knife, he sets off in purposeful pursuit of her through a dimly lit labyrinth of corridors, then exacts his brutal revenge near the video’s conclusion. In his warped perception, this drastic course of action is the only means he has of keeping his ex girlfriend forever, or at least preventing anyone else from having her. Finally, the murderer is seen with his hands and clothes covered in blood and a sinister smirk on his face, implying that he has achieved his objective. An already disturbing character is made all the worse for being played by the baby-faced G-Dragon!
I’m probably one of the very few who people who don’t get excited for Halloween. Don’t get me wrong; growing up I absolutely enjoyed dressing up in scary costumes but it only seems as though what started out as a holiday of trickery and the occasional treat has become an opportunity for people to get dressed up in rather trashy outfits. Whatever happened to the monstrous themes, face makeup and extreme hairstyles? 100’s “Beat” takes after a Frankenstein theme, each member sporting heavy eye makeup, colored hair, and armored clothing (if any at all). Even though that movie always crept me out when I was younger, I wouldn’t mind it one bit if I saw a bunch of guys that looked like 100% walking around on Halloween; even with their hearts dangling out. Well, maybe not the heart part.
— Tam
In a a political take on Disney’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Seo Taiji’s “Christmalo.Win” takes us all to a town filled with ghouls, witches, and pumpkins. The iconic Korean singer enters the town to begin singing as a little girl finds that her mother and friends are missing. The music video and the pop-rock song are sinister companions to one another, with dramatic flare to spare (check out his band!) Seo Taiji is a consummate performer and artist, but it’s the content that puts the viewer into the Halloween mood. Watch the whole video to take a look of the eerie tale of a Halloweentown girl looking for her mother in a Christmas town. Not all is as black and white as it appears, and the differences between the poor and rich, the weak and the power, is very clear, even within the holiday packaging of a war between the holidays.
— Tamar
What’s your favorite Korean Halloween song? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
Sexy and strong is great, but K-pop comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes that size is “cute.” This week’s KultScene Playlist Sunday features our favorite cute K-pop concepts. These bright, colorful, upbeat songs and music videos were handpicked by KultScene’s staff to put a smile on anyone’s face as these girl groups and boy band win their way into everybody’s hearts.
